Divine Dining March 31, 2026 Devotional

LUKE 19:7-11 | ⁷ All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” ⁸ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” ⁹ Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Jesus’ interest in and friendship with Zaccheus was offensive to some and just strange to others. But our great Seeker understands two wonderful things—what we can be saved from and what we can be saved for.

Zaccheus was saved from a terrible greed that had led him to betray his people and his faith. He was saved from a bitter isolation which kept him, along with other tax collectors, from entering the synagogue or having any genuine form of public and social life.

Even better than this remarkable salvation from error and rejection was the fact that he was saved for generosity and connection. He became a benefactor, donating 50 percent net-worth to people in need and repaying times four all he had defrauded by inflated tax. Release from every wrong, forgiveness for every misdeed is marvelous, but a new life that will bring blessing to others is                incredible. Zaccheus’ dinner for Jesus became a public kingdom celebration.

What have you been saved from? What have you been saved for?

Gracious God,

Free me from past problems. Free me for present service, and generosity, and for celebration.

Amen.